Apparatus for cleaning or treating clothes or the like



2,598,366 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING QR TREATING CLOTHES 012 THE LIKE Filed Na s, 1947 I May 27, 19 w. E. EDWARDS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor G- Attorney.

May 27, 1 w. E. EDWARDS APPARATUS FOR'CLEANING 0R TREATING CLOTHES OR THE LIKE Filed May 9, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor JJ. 8.52

May 27, 1952 w. EDWARDS APPARATUS FOR CLEANING OR TREATING CLOTHES OR THE LIKE Filed May 9. 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 27, 1952 2,598,366 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING R TREATING CLOTHES OR THE LIKE William E. Edwards, Leigh, England, assignor to Sutclifie, Speakman & Company Limited,

Leigh, England, ration a British joint-stock corpo- Application May 9, 1947, Serial No. 747,015 In Great Britain November 28, 1944 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires November 28, 1964 9 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning clothes or other material as by Washing, drying, dry-cleaning, centrifuging or dyeing.

The invention has among its objects in the drycleaning of clothe or other materials, to carry out the operations of washing, centrifugin and drying in the same apparatus, and to permit the clothes or other materials freely to tumble in the compartments of a rotatable casing during the operation of washing or drying, while holding the clothes or other materials in the centrifuging operation, under conditions in which the charged rotatable casing may be rotated in dynamic balance at high speeds.

According to the invention apparatus for treating material as by washing, dry-cleaning, drying, dyeing or the like, comprises a perforated drum or casing mounted to rotate in an outer stationary casing, and divided by transverse members into compartments to obtain axial balance of the loaded casing on its shaft, and clamping devices or the equivalent to confine the materials at positions in the casing, the positions being selected so as to provide rotational balance of the casing and its content at high speeds. In the slow speed operations of washing and drying the problem of balancing is unimportant; the clamping devices or the equivalent are not used and the clothes or other contents are permitted to tumble freely within the compartments. In the relatively high speed operation of centrifuging, axial balance is achieved by a correct distribution of the total load between the various compartments that is to say by a distribution of the total load on the shaft so that there is zero bending moment at the bearings of the shaft due to the centrifugal forces disposed along the shaft, and balance in the plane of rotation is achieved by fixing, by the use of the clamping device or equivalent, the position of the load at determined positions on the inner periphery in each separate compartment. Thus, for axial balance the casing may be divided by two transverse partitions into three compartments, the middle compartment being of a size to hold a weight of clothes or other materials equal to twice the weight held in each of'the two end compartments. For rotational balance the compartments may be provided with clamping devices or the equivalent advantageously pivotally mounted or otherwise secured on the inner peripheral walls of the compartments of the casing and adapted to be locked in position so as to retain the clothes or other materials within selected zones against the walls of the casing; where the casing is divided ure 2, with the clamps into three compartments having the middle compartment equal in size to the partments, the clamping device and hence the selected zone in the middle compartment is located at a diametrically opposite position on the Wall of the casing to the clamping devices and zones in the two end compartments.

The clamping devices may take the form of curved metal sheets, pivotally secured as by hinges along one edge of the inner peripheral wall of the casing and provided at positions or at a position along the outer edge with looking devices adapted to engage co-operating parts on the peripheral wall of the casing, the curvature of the sheets being in a direction opposite to that of the casing so that a space of predetermined size is enclosed between the clamping devices and the inner peripheral Walls of the casing.

The rotatable casing out its length of the structed of a metal or same diameter and conmaterial of substantially the same thickness or gauge. It is also advantageously mounted in known manner within a stationary enclosing casing of lar er diameter and length, the rotatable and stationary enclosing casings being respectively provided in known manner with peripheral openings that are closed by doors. The openings in the rotatable casing are adapted to be brought into register with those in the stationary enclosing casing for loading and unloading.

Again, any number of compartments may be used provided the total load distribution between the compartments and the location of the clamped zones within the compartments are such as to comply with the required conditions of axial and rotational balance.

The invention further comprises thefeatures of construction hereinafter described.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-section of apparatus, according to the invention, on the line |-I of Figin the operating positions;

Figure 2 is a corresponding longitudinal elevation, partly in section;

Figure 3 is a cross-section on the line l-l corresponding to Figure 1, showing the clamping devices held in position against the rotary casing of the apparatus;

Figure 4 is an isometric view of the apparatus.

In carrying the invention into eifect according to one construction, in a dry-cleanin opera tion, as illustrated in Figure 1 to 3 of the drawcombined end com-- is advantageously through ings, the perforated rotatable casing a is provided of cylindrical form and of uniform diameter. Two circular partitions a are set in determined positions to extend transversely of the casing 11 and secured in those positions, the partitions a being so spaced apart that the two end compartments b are formed of a width of substantially one-half the width of the middle compartment D The rotatable casing a at its respective ends is closed by end walls or plates 0 of circular form having outwardly extending peripheral flanges 0 upon which the respective ends of the cylindrical wall of the rotatable casing a are secured. The end walls or plates 0 are each adapted in a central position for the reception of the inner end of an outwardly extending spindle d by which the rotatable casing a, may be supported at the respective ends.

An outer stationary casing e is provided to enclose the perforated rotatable casing a, there be-v m a substan a s a e pr vided b ween the easme e a d the r tata l casin a.

he utwa dly xtendi part f the p d e d of the rotatable cas n a are p orted i b a ings I mounted upon the end walls e of the casing e. Formed integrally with the bearings f are hot air pipes g.

The air inlet pipes g are provided with an inlet of elbow shape at f extending upwardly at the outer end, through which the hot air admitted may be directed inwardly from both ends of the rotatable casing a through an annular space a surrounding the bearing 3, the annular space being completed by an inwardly extending flange 1 while the respective end plates c of the rotatable casing a are provided respectively with outwardly extending integral cylindrical flange 0 adapted freely to coincide with the inwardly p o e t n en o t fla ge i An annular perforated grid plate 0 is advantae eeou ly m u in p s ti n upp t d on he respective inner faces of both end platesc of the rotatable casing for the passage into the rotate able casing a of hot air from the hot air inlets 9.

Thus the hot air for use in the drying of the centrifuged or washed clothes or other materials, may be passed through the respective hot air inet P e 9 at on or o h end o th o atabl casing a, and then passed through perforations a, that are provided in the respective partitions a The hot air thence passes out into the enlos n stationar a n e, an o h an 01 take pipe h It will be understood the clothes are first washed in a solvent which may be any known solvent such as trichlorethylene. The solvent may be passed into the stationary cylindrical casing e through an inlet 1' (Figure 1) that may be provided for example at a position slightly below the centre line of the stationary enclosing casing e, while the outlet for the solvent may conveniently be provided in a central position beneath that casing e.

In the centrifuging operation clamping frames It may be employed as illustrated in Figure 1. They may be provided of a latticed or reticulated form and of curvature corresponding to the internal diameter of the rotatable casing 91. At one end the respective clamping frames h are hingedly connected, to a pair or other number of hinges, disposed in line parallel with the axis of rotation of the inner rotatable casing a, while at the opposite end the clamping frames h are adapted to be held by a suitable fastening or fastenings m mounted at the oppositely disposed position to that from which the clamping frame it extends. The length and curvature of the clamping frames h are advantageously such that at the normal position at which the clamping frames are set for holding the clothes or other materials in centrifuging, a space is enclosed in which a predetermined quantity of soaked clothes or other material is firmly held without appreciable movement, In the centrifuging operation the casing is preferably rotated at a speed of 500-750 revolutions per minute.

At the end of the centrifuging operation, the clamping frames in may be disconnected at one end and moved on their hinges into positions lying on the inner periphery of the compartment of the casing by partial rotation on the hinging axis, as shown in Figure 3, in which positions they may be held by fastening devices m proded internally on the wall of the rotatable cas- The casing may then be used for the drying of the clothes or other materials with hot so that it is unnecessary to remove the clamping frames from the compartments before or after the centrifuging operation, and the clothes are permitted freely to tumble around in the casing.

In the operation of the apparatus for drycleaning, hen the clothes are being washed, the casing may for example be rotated at a speed of 3-4 3,1. M. for a period of a quarter of an hour, two revolutions in one direction followed by two in the opposite direction by means of an electric motor is geared in known manner for the purpose. In the following centrifuging operation the casing may be rotated at a speed of 500-750 R. P. M. for half an hour, while in the final drying operation the casing may be rotated at a speed and for a period as in the washing operation. It will be understood that the period required for each operation will be governed by the nature and condition of the clothing undergoing treatment.

The clamping frames h in the end compartments are set in corresponding positions, while the clamping frame It in the middle compartment is mounted in a diametrically opposite position, the capacity of the enclosed spaces thus formed being such that in the middle compartment, the clothes or other materials may have twice the weight of the clothes or other materials enclosed by the clamping frames in the respective end c mpa tme The rotatable casing c and the stationary casing c are provided with peripheral openings in determined position that may be closed by covers or doors n, n respectively that are adapted to be securely positioned with close fit, the openings being adapted to be brought into register for loading and unloading.

The casing a is advantageously rotated by the electric motor Ic through a gear box and the drive imparted to one of the projecting spindles cl of the rotatable casing a.

It will be understood that in the operation of dry-cleaning as hereinbefore described, the apparatus described is adapted to serve as to wash, centrifuge and dry the clothes or other like articles, and that in the operation of washing and drying the clamping frames h are held flush with the wall of the rotatable casing in the manner described, whereby the apparatus is, in simple manner, adap ed for t e operation of Washing and .dr ing the ciothes or other materials t ea ed being free o tum l h le in the trifuging operation the clamping frames are readily adapted to be fixed in position to form case to give the optimum result.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for the cleaning or treating of clothes or like materials by washing, centrifuging, drying, dry-cleaning or dyeing, comprising a perforated rotatable casing divided by two transversely extending partitions into three compartments, of which the middle compartment has twice, or approximately twice, the capacity of each of the end compartments and clamping devices mounted within said compartments rotatably together with said casing for clamping the materials in said compartments on the inner surface of said casing at diametrically opposite positions in adjacent compartments.

2. Apparatus for treating materials by washing, centrifuging, drying, dry-cleaning or dyeing, comprising a rotatable perforated casing for receiving the materials to be treated, mounted to rotate in bearings a stationary enclosing casing, partitions in said rotatable perforated casing to present compartments of a size to provide axial balance of the loaded casing on its bearings, and a plurality of clamping members mounted within said compartments on the peripheral wall of said rotatable perforated casing to confine the materials against said peripheral Wall within said compartment at positions such that there is rotational balance of the loaded casing at high speeds.

3. In an apparatus for treating materials by washing, centrifuging, drying, dry cleaning or dyeing, in combination, a rotatable elongated perforated casing for receiving the materials to be treated; transverse partition means in said rotatable elongated perforated casing forming compartments within said casing; and a plurality of clamping members mounted within said compartments rotatably together with said casing for clamping the materials in said compartments during treatment to the inner surface of said casing at positions such that there is substantial rotational balance of the loaded casing at high speeds.

4. In an apparatus for treating materials by washing, centrifuging, drying, dry cleaning or dyeing, in combination, a rotatable elongated perforated casing for receiving the materials to be treated; transverse partition means in said rotatable elongated perforated casing forming two sets of compartments within said casing each of said sets of compartments consisting of at least one compartment; and a plurality of clamping devices each mounted within one of said compartments rotatably together with the casing for clamping the materials in said sets of compartments during treatment to diametrically opposite inner surface portions of said casing.

5. Apparatus adapted to treating materials by washing, by centrifugal drying, by dry-cleaning, or by dyeing, comprising a cylindrical perforated casing mounted horizontally in bearings to be rotatable in a closed stationary casing, doors in the walls of said casings, transverse partitions dividing said cylindrical perforated casing into a number of compartments so that the total capacity of a selected number of selected compart ments equals the total capacity of the remainder of said compartments, and means in each compartment for clamping the materials to be treated at peripheral positions on the inner walls of said selected number of compartments diametrically opposite the positions at which said means are provided in the remainder of the compartments.

6. Apparatus adapted for treating materials by Washing, drying by centrifuging, dry-cleam ig, or dyeing, comprising a cylindrical perforated casing mounted horizontally in hearings to )e rotatable in a closed stationary casing, doors in the walls or inner and said outer casings,

Svelse partitions in said perforated casin the compartments, the middle conipartmeni; having twice the capacity of each end compartment, means for holding the materials to be treated in said compartments at diametricaily opposite positions on the inner peripheral walls of the two end compartments with respect no the position of said means on the inner peripl'ierai wall or" the middle compartment.

1. Apparatus adapted for treating materials by washing, drying by centrifuging, dry-cleaning or dyeing, comprising a cylindrical perforated oasmounted horizontally in bearings to be ret; ole in a closed stationary casing, doors in the walls of said inner and said outer casings, two transverse partitions in said perforated casing forming the compartments, the middle compartmerit having twice the capacity of each end com- *ment, means for holding the materials to be treated in said compartments at diametrically opposite positions on the inner peripheral walls of the two end compartments with respect to the position of said means on the inner peripheral wall or" the middle compartment, and said means comprising arcuate levers pivoted at their ends on the inner peripheral Walls of each of the compartments and means for locking each lever at the free end.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5 including means for rotating the cylindrical perforated casing alternately in opposite directions at relatively slow speeds, and in one direction at relatively high speed.

9. Apparatus according to claim 6 including means for passing air into said cylindrical perforated casing and an outlet in said stationary casing for the air.

W. E. EDWARDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 166.995 li'iatthiessen Aug. 24, 1875 305,049 'Chavanne et al. a- Sept. 16, 1884 329,25: Obermaier Oct. 27, 1885 792,755 Cautley June 20, 1905 076,035 Burton Nov. 15, 1910 1,316,643 Peterman Sept. 23, 1919 1,544,884 Braley July 7, 1925 1,840,693 Brooks Jan. 12, 1932 1,882,284 Hullings Oct. 11, 1932 2,150,638 Scott Mar. 14, 1939 2,197,100 Downes Apr. 16, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 405,662 Great Britain Feb. 9, 1934 

